Nalbari Incident: No Objection to Christmas, But Serious Questions Remain — Dilip Saikia

Commenting on the Nalbari incident, Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia said there was no objection to the celebration of Christmas or any other religious festival, but raised concerns over what he described as a declining percentage of people following Sanatani beliefs and civilisation.

Speaking to the media, Saikia said that the Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the right to choose and practise their religion, and stressed that religious celebrations must be respected. However, he questioned whether this freedom is being exercised equally across communities.

“The concern is whether the percentage of people who believe in Sanatani ideology and civilisation has come down compared to other religion-based communities,” Saikia said, adding that if there is no decline in the population share of other communities, questions must be raised as to why Hindus appear to be shrinking in number.

Alleging that Hindus are being repeatedly targeted, the BJP leader questioned whether religious conversions are taking place only in one direction. He asked whether there have been instances of Christians undergoing diksha (religious initiation) into Hindu culture, and why, according to him, only Hindus are expected to convert.

Saikia clarified that his remarks were not aimed at any particular community, but were intended to highlight broader social changes. He warned that continuous provocation could test the patience of a section of society, while firmly emphasising that no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands.

He further underlined that all protests must remain within the constitutional and legal framework, stating that democratic protest is a fundamental right but must be exercised lawfully.

The state BJP president also issued a special appeal to the indigenous people of Assam, urging them to remain vigilant in safeguarding cultural identity while upholding constitutional values and the rule of law.

Earlier, following the vandalism at St Mary’s English School in Panigaon village of Assam’s Nalbari district, police have arrested at least four individuals allegedly linked to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal (VHPBD).

The arrests were made after a case was registered at Belsor Police Station as Case No. 116/2025, invoking multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 329(3) (mischief causing damage), 326(f) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 189(2), 324(3), 324(4), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy).

The arrested individuals have been identified as Bhaskar Deka (34), who is claimed to be the General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal in Nalbari, along with Manash Jyoti Patgiri (32), Biju Dutta (34), and Nayan Talukdar (37).

According to police sources, the group allegedly entered the school premises, vandalised banners, posters, and festive decorations, and set some items on fire while raising slogans. Reports further indicated that activists associated with the VHP and Bajrang Dal also targeted shops in Nalbari town selling Christmas-related items, torching certain goods in protest against what they termed the celebration of a festival of “non-Indian origin”.

The incident, which occurred on Christmas Eve, triggered widespread condemnation from opposition leaders and minority organisations, who raised concerns over communal harmony. Police stated that the investigation is ongoing and further arrests cannot be ruled out.

Senior Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Debabrata Saikia condemned the incident, calling for a thorough probe and strict action against those responsible.

The Assam Christian Forum (ACF) also strongly condemned the vandalism of Christmas preparations at the school premises and the targeted destruction of Christmas merchandise at multiple commercial establishments across Nalbari town.

Also Read: Assam: Four Bajrang Dal members arrested for vandalising Christmas decor in Nalbari